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Schools shortlisted in Raspberry Pi programming challenge

Several schools have reached the final round of a competition to find the most innovative application of the Raspberry Pi.

A year after the credit-card sized computer first went on sale, the Raspberry Pi Foundation and PA Consulting launched a challenge for schools and universities to demonstrate
their programming and design skills using the Raspberry Pi. Six entries have now been shortlisted, with the final judging to take place
on 20 March.

Among the final entries is an automatic pill dispenser developed by students from Dalriada School in Northern Ireland, which dispenses the correct dosage of pills for patients. The pill dispenser is programmed by the Pi and dispenses the correct dosage at specific times by synchronising with medical information entered online. Other entries include:

an automatic door answering system designed to help elderly and disabled people answer their front door

an
air quality and weather surveillance device which takes in information
about air quality through its sensors and uploads it directly to the
internet, where it can then be viewed and analysed on a smartphone or
tablet

a parental protection system for mobile devices in the
home. The device ensures that children can stay safe on the internet,
regardless of which device they pick up

a device which allows school children in developing countries to communicate with other schools across the world